Remarkably, the Chicago metropolitan area containes some of Illinois’ largest and best remnants of our native eco-systems. These remaining natural lands are precious and irreplaceable, but they need our help to survive and prosper. That’s where groups such as the North Branch Restoration Project come in.
Restoration is a new way to interact with nature – helping to restore health and vigor to damaged natural areas through stewardship.
Every weekend, in all kinds of weather, volunteers gather at scheduled sites to work, restoring health to the preserves by cutting brush, pulling weeds, gathering and sowing seeds. Citizen scientists collect important information about the plants and animals, monitoring changes in sites as restoration proceeds and adding to the knowledge of local ecosystems.
Today, many groups in the Chicago area and the rest of our country are involved in the restoration of native habitats. Among these groups, the North Branch Restoration Project has been called a model for volunteer stewardship and ecological restoration.
Removing Invasive Species
Humans have always had the ability to take plants and animals from their native habitats and introduce them to new lands. more…
Seeds for the Future
Under the dense shade of buckthorn and other invasives, much of the groundlayer – the flowers, grasses and sedges – has died out. more…
The Magic of Fire
Most of the natural landscape of the Chicago region originally developed in the presence of regular, seasonal fires, which were ignited by lightning and Native Americans. more…
Taking the pulse of the land
An important part of restoring health to natural lands is keeping track of progress. There are many different questions we might ask – one would be what is happening to the plant community more…
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Before: Buckthorn – a shrub introduced from Europe – has invaded this woodland, creating dense shade that kills the sun-loving native plants. Originally planted as a hedge in people’s yard, Buckthorn produces thousand of juicy black berries. Birds eat the berries, then fly into the nearby woods where their droppings ‘plant’ the seeds.
After: Buckthorn is removed, letting sunlight reach the woodland floor. The stumps are dabbed with an herbicide to prevent resprouting. Seed of local native flowers and grasses are collected from nearby sites and sowed into the cleared area. In a few years, the site will be well on its way to a flourishing natural community once again.
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